TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2011

RUNNER UP: "SOURCE CODE"

Directed By: Duncan JonesWritten By: Ben Ripley

Duncan Jones is a filmmaker to be reckoned with. His debut film “Moon” turned a few heads and now he embarks on his first studio film with pleasurable results. The script from Ben Ripley is smart and has quite a few twists which will take the viewer on a thrilling ride throughout its brisk 93 minute running time. The repeating structure of the script never becomes tedious and is aided by a charming and dependable Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead role. I am excited for whatever Duncan Jones turns out next as he is 2 for 2 so far. Bring it on!

10. "THE TREE OF LIFE"

Directed By: Terrence MalikWritten By: Terrence Malik

Though it has its narrative faults, this is a grand achievement of filmmaking from legendary director Terrence Malick. It plays around with the ideas of what a film should be. It is a philosophical piece that attempts to answer really hard questions about human nature and the meaning of life. Brad Pitt is phenomenal in the film and Emanuel Lubezki shoots what is undoubtedly the most beautiful film of the last 5 years. If you have patience give it a try...though it is certainly not for everyone.

9. "THE DESCENDANTS"

George Clooney gives the best performance of his career. Though Alexander Payne's script can be taken the wrong way by many people, he certainly knows how to capture real people in real life situations that develops into real life conflict. Not as funny as I thought it would be compared to his last film (Sideways), but for what Payne is lacking in comedy he certainly makes up for in drama. Plus the Hawaiian setting is gorgeous and helps to give the film its cinematic identity.

8. "RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES"

Directed By: Rupert WyattWritten By: Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver

Andy Serkis's performance as Cesar in a triumph of performance capture wizardry. Coupled with the digital wizards at Weta, they have created a CG character who is a fully living, breathing, thinking machine. He is the one who gains our trust and leads us on a journey of discovery and revolution in what is certainly one of the most engrossing films of the year. A surprise on all levels. It is the rare reboot that works.

7. "HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2"

Directed By: David YatesWritten By: Steve Kloves

Not since “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” have I seen a film that really captured what it meant to grant closure to its audience from a film series. With many blockbusters you see how the seeds are planted for a future installment. This film breathes its own nostalgia and wraps up the audience in one of the grandest climaxes of the year. It is emotional, funny, and pure magic in every way. All of the child actors who we have watched grow up before our very eyes emerge as fully realized adult characters caught up in the final fight of their lives and the results are absolutely riveting.

6. "MONEYBALL"

Directed By: Bennett MillerWritten By: Aaron Sorkin & Steven Zaillian

Brad Pitt is given what may very well be the best role of his life in this film and he runs away with it and never looks back. His journey of managing the “Oakland A’s” is a story that can be enjoyed by those that may not even like baseball. The screenplay breezes by with it’s sharp quips and hysterical insight into the world of sports management. It is a film about hopes and dreams and how life gets in the way of reaching those goals. However, we then realize that its life’s other gifts that are our most treasured. It not about winning or losing, it is about how the game is played and living in the moment.

5. "WARRIOR"

No film this year had me on the edge of my seat the way “Warrior” did in its climatic final MMA confrontation. This may very well be the most underrated film of the year and I urge everyone to give it a try. It is such a powerfully moving film that it holds the distinction of being the only film in 2011 that made me cry. The three leads give heartbreaking and profound performances. And after seeing this movie, you'll see why Tom Hardy was cast to play Bane in next years The Dark Knight Rises. His physicality is unparalleled and his ability to convey his character’s inner pain is downright brilliant.

4. "THE ARTIST"

Directed By: Michel HazanaviciusWritten By: Michel Hazanavicius

A silent black and white film in 2011?! Strangely enough, the film works. And though it may lag at a few moments in the film (What do you expect in this day and age?) the film is as magical as any film can get. It is a simple story that pays homage to the great films of past. Featuring a classical score from Ludovic Bource that keeps the film moving and helps define its emotion and a ton of other below the line technical achievements, “The Artist” is a wonderful film that will put a smile on your face. Is it a gimmick? Yes. Does it work? Yes. And as a result, it went on to win the Best Picture Oscar and four more others in 2011.

3. "HUGO"

Directed By: Martin ScorseseWritten By: John Logan

Martin Scorsese. When you say that name, lots of emotions come rushing through your head. I always think of “Goodfellas” right away. This is the guy who makes violent films about violent men trapped inside a violent world. This is his first family film that like “The Artist” pays homage to the old days of film in a way that had me even more engrossed than The Artist did. It is a true family film for adults. Featuring the best use of 3D ever in a live action film, Scorsese uses every trick in the book to tell his story about the mysterious life of Georges Melies and the little boy named “Hugo” who helps him find his purpose in life. A touching film in every way. This is Scorsese, maybe not at the level we are used to...but on a different level entirely.

2. "THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO"

Directed By: David FincherWritten By: Steven Zaillian

David Fincher is one of my favorite directors ever. Ok, now that that is out of the way....this is a complex film that most are probably aware of from the hit book and the Swedish film that came out just a couple of years ago. Rooney Mara is absolutely spellbinding in the lead role and her chemistry with Daniel Craig is utterly fantastic so much so that the ending of the film has such a powerful impact on the viewer. With an atmospheric score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, brisk editing and dark cinematography, no other film this year touched into the darkest parts of human nature more so than this film. It is a film that takes a hard stand on the relationships between men and women and will either offend some or leave you utterly breathless. It is not the murder mystery that is important in this film, it is the human connection between the films two lead characters that stays with you long after the film has ended. I would confidently put this up there with David Fincher's other two masterpiece serial killer films “Se7en” and “Zodiac.”

1. "DRIVE"

Directed By: Nicolas Winding RefnWritten By: Hossein Amini

The coolest movie of the year. Ryan Gosling plays a character who will be featured on posters in the movie geeks bedrooms for years to come. There is not a lot I can really say about this film other than it must be seen to be believed. It is unlike any action film I have seen in a long time. It was not until I saw it a second time that I realized that this is not an action film at all. It is a character study of a man who the audience does not know much about. His actions speak louder than his words...literally. There are scenes of complete silence in this film between Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan that they do with mere looks to one another. It is daring filmmaking to say the least. The unfortunate marketing that hyped this as a “Fast and the Furious” style movie left many feeling cheated. No other film this year rewarded me more than “Drive.” With its 80’s filmic style and Los Angeles setting director Nicholas Winding Refn creates an atmospheric film that drips style in every frame. Even the supporting characters are unique and each has their moment to shine in this film, especially comedian Albert Brooks who tackles a role unlike any other he has done in his long career. If you missed it in theaters, let me tell you right now...this is not “The Fast and the Furious”...this is not an action film...this is a masterpiece.

MY TOP 5 MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN FILM1. The Opening Credits to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo2. The Elevator Scene in Drive3. The Final Fight in Warrior4. The Princes Tale in Deathly Hallows Part 25. The Beginning of Life Sequence in The Tree of Life

Best Performances By An Actor/ActressGeorge Clooney in The DescendantsRooney Mara in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Best Performance By A Supporting Actor/ActressAlbert Brooks in DriveShailene Woodley in The Descendants

Best Use of Music in a FilmTIE: Drive and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Best ScriptMoneyball by Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian

Guilty Pleasure of the YearTransformers: Dark of the Moon

Top 5 Best Technical Achievements in Film1. The Cinematography in The Tree of Life2. The use of 3D in Hugo3. The use of sound in The Artist4. The editing in Warrior5. The special effects in Rise of the Planet of the Apes

The Top 10 Movies I Missed in 20111. The Muppets2. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close3. Martha Marcey May Marlene4. My Week with Marilyn5. A Dangerous Method

Film I'm Most Looking Forward To In 2012TIE: The Hobbit and The Dark Knight Rises